The Biggest of Uganda’s entertainment eyes aka BigEye.ug returns this year for the 9th edition of the Nyege Nyege Festival dubbed ‘Afrogalactic Edition.’ Well, rumour has it that this time round, revellers should expect to journey to the stars. Everyone will be an astronaut, it will moments and memories in space.
Nyege Nyege is rated as Africa’s best underground festival, that’s to imply that it goes off and seeks the music on the fringes, it goes away from the mainstream. Do not expect the usuals that you always find at your brunches in Kampala, or the Friday Bugos party times, it’s out of the usual, and again, it’s afrogalactic. Here’s the 9 things you should expect to experience this year.
1. The Sudanese Factor
Artistes such as Mahdiya from Sudan, a country currently in civil war, will be bringing a twist to the festival. That Sudanese sound transports you somewhere to the great old days of the Caravans, of the pyramids and of that night in the desert as the starry night decorates the moment. For those seeking to make a fashion statement at Nyege Nyege, this is time to run around to those Sudanese shops in Naalya or Ntinda and get yourself a thobe or thawb. And you will have a chance to taste some Sudanese tea, forget that excuse of tea that you call dawa tea in Kampala restaurants.
2. Return of the Reggae Stage
You know you just don’t go to space without some great music to accompany you there, something to make you feel irie. Reggae Nyege is going to be around to hold you, to bring you to this consciousness of one love. If you last received a hug in high school, this is the place you will get one, and a peck. And who knows, get a taste of that thing, that which you are imagining in your mind.
3. The Real Byana of Busoga
This one is top secret, but the best of the best in Busoga are planning a surprise. Mbu they want to let Ugandans experience that Omusoga that features in Acidic Vokoz’ songs and also in Kimera’s Omuwala song. Kwegamba they are leaving no stone unturned. ‘You see these people be in Kampala and think they have seen everything, now we want to surprise them with the true sources of the Nile,’ says Lusha, the leader of this crew. Of course with this, expect the best of Chapatti, you know if you come for Nyege Nyege and don’t taste a Jinja rolex, then what are you, who are you, where are you?
4. Brazil and Colombia
You don’t have to travel to Rio to experience the Samba. The Samba will be right there with you. Imagine waking up to some Trap Funk thing as the Nile breathes in your background oba foresight. Kwegamba, anything. But if there’s a party then Brazil and Colombia are the party. As in, if sleep is your friend, this could be the time you separate.
5. The Wonders of Jinja
Okay, Jinja is a city of different river views and millions of secrets. That’s it, these secrets you must uncover for yourself. As in, it could be bungee-jumping, kayaking, there’s that ka-boiled chicken served in a pot. That’s if you are daring and travel to Bugembe to visit the Kyabazinga. That ka-pot chicken is hidden there. Just make sure you jump on the right people, or let your real safe roam around.
6. People, People, and People
You will meet people. Then you will meet people. Then people will meet you. Then you will meet them again. Remember the rule is to just let whatever is Nyege keep at Nyege. This will be the time you will see your serious Boss wearing those Kitaka shorts. It could be the time you will see the serious Director wearing bu-patras, and she will even say, come for Dub. So prepare to see people like you’ve never seen them.
7. The Foods, the Drinks
As usual, these ones you will have a cocktail of them, buffets of them, tribes of them. Exercise caution. Or better still, buy some immodium to tighten that belly when things backfire and some Ka mara moja to contain the headache in case you forget and think you’re hard guy, hard girl.
8. The Big Eye
The Big Eye aka BigEye.ug will be everywhere, in your sleep, in your tent, at the different stages, in the waters, everywhere. You can’t see the Big Eye but it can see you. But the Big Eye is your friend. You can always dance for it. You can speak to it, it will be there to escort you to the stars. You’re now an astronaut. Remember that. You can name your spaceship in advance.
9. Everything and Everything
As we have always said, Nyege is what you make it. If you decide to keep it dull, Nyege will be dull. There’s no timetable to follow, you follow your spirit. If you want to sleep, you sleep. If you wake up and get in the mood of going shirtless, that’s up to you. If you want to shout, you shout. If you want to create your new slang, it’s up to you. So everything can happen as you decide. The canvas is there, you imprint what your soul dictates.
